Four Group 1s, sun beaming, a little wind and a dry track, and a stack of horses arriving at Royal Randwick with one of two missions planned – to pitchfork themselves into an even bigger Melbourne Spring, or crown the current prep with a large payday on one of Sydney’s biggest race days of the year!
While the time-honoured Epsom is wide open, at times betting $5.50 the field, and dependent so much on the speed and early positions, elsewhere at Randwick punters on Luxbet have let rip with some almighty charges on a few runners!
The biggest statement has come for the unraced Sugar Rush ahead of the two-year-old fillies facing the starter for the first time in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes. She’s been sensationally backed from an opening $2.40 into $2.00, among the action a $100,000.00 wager at $2.20. We know from the trials she’s very good and very ready, but two other impressive trial winners – Darley’s Guelph and the W aterhouse stablemate Shehad – are right in the race, and likely to loom as the bookies’ big hopes!
Punters have also launched into Rain Affair, a month after the power sprinter let his fans down resuming in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Warwick Farm. We put up top odds of $2.45 and punters have let rip quickly backing the five-year-old into $2.20, including one bet of $15,000.00 at $2.40!
At Flemington in Melbourne, the Group 1 action hots up with the traditional Turnbull Stakes, another vital stepping stone into the Spring and something of a dress-rehearsal for the Cox Plate in three weeks!
December Draw ($6.00 into $5.50) has been the best backed, including one wager of $10,000.00, although there’s been a steady flow of smart money for Voila Ici from $9.00 into $7.00. But the $5.00 or better is enough for me to charge into Green Moon, third-up back to Flemington over a trip he should devour.
HERE’S A SNAP OF HOW I SEE SUPER SATURDAY:
MY EPSOM TIP:
RANGIRANGDOO: Both his runs back under bigger weights have been outstanding, and despite
the wide barrier here, is beautifully placed third-up to a truly run mile on a dry track!
MY BEST BET:
BEL SPRINTER (Flemington R7): Outstanding sprinter who was dominant resuming in a strong race at Moonee Valley over 1000m. Even better suited here up to 1200m on the straight course, and drops 2.5kg from weight-for-age. With Black Caviar sidelined, gets his chance this Spring to become the land’s number one sprinter!
MY BEST VALUE:
EMOTIONAL CIRCUS (Randwick R9): Finished off strong in The Shorts when got a long way back and never really clear. Can sit in a better spot here, again off the speed over the right trip, and strike late. Loves a dry track and is way over the odds!
MY BEST LAY:
URBAN GROOVE (Randwick R6): Won her only two starts impressively, but is under the odds here big time jumping sharply to a Group 1 mile against some tough fillies at set weights.
BEST BACKED ON LUXBET:
SUGAR RUSH (Randwick R1): Has been a sensational go on this debut Waterhouse speed filly firming from $2.40 into $2.00, highlighted by one bet of $100,000.00 at $2.20! Impressive two-time trial winner.
NEIL’S RANDWICK RUMBLERS
R5: No. 2 IT’S A DUNDEEL: I concede he will have to be at his very best to run down the flying and heavily-backed hot favourite Proisir. But at set weights and up to 2000m, he doesn’t have to be far away, even if the rider takes off at the 800m. Staying type who is over the odds, and just wants a clean crack f rom the top of the turn.
R8: No. 6 GLENCADEM GOLD: Starting to get a little thin in the market, but is sensationally weighted here dropping 5kgs from the Newcastle Cup win, and is even carrying less than his Group 3 Premier Cup win two starts back. Beautifully placed to dictate the speed and defy the chasers again.
NEIL’S FLEMINGTON FAB
R7: No. 11 GREEN MOON: Big run second-up at Moonee Valley, and will appreciate the switch to Flemington and step up to 2000m big time. Drops 3.5kg from weight-for-age and is brilliantly placed!
NEIL’S EAGLE FARM FLYER
R6: No. 4 JOINT CHIEFS: Has been hitting the line hard in unsuitably run races, and while this is no easier, step up to 1300m suits from a softer draw. Big knockout hope at odds!
